Microsoft Azure, the software giant’s cloud computing arm, is getting another big addition this week. The latest addition will be the cloud document management service Box. This means that Box’s customers will now be able to take advantage of the Azure’s AI and machine learning capabilities to improve the file sharing and sync service.

The file sharing service announced this week that it would start offering data storage on Azure as an option for its customers. This is the first time Box will offer its customers the option to choose in which public cloud provider will store their Box-stored data.

The data storage on Azure is just part of a co-selling agreement between the two companies, in which Box will not be selling the Azure services on their own, but as an option with a purchase of Box file sharing service.

As for Microsoft, the software giant will also start pitching Box as part of sales for their cloud computing service. Other Box’s cloud provider partners, which include Azure competitors AWS and Google, don’t have this same co-selling agreement in place.

Partnership to bring AI and machine learning on board

According to Recode, the Redmond-based company and Box will start selling file sharing service in Azure. The partnership also involved Azure’s cloud-based AI and machine learning technology coming to Box.

The partnership will provide Microsoft Azure another edge over Google Cloud by increasing the Azure’s exposure to the market, especially the large enterprise companies. Box currently claims around d 64 percent of the Fortune 500 companies as its customers. These include big-name companies like Procter & Gamble, IBM, GE, and more.

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Additionally, the Redmond City-based company will also offer an option for customers where they can select geographic zones to their store data. This means that companies can store information on Box on servers in specific countries, allowing companies to comply with those country’s rules and guidelines on data storage.

However, according to Box’s chief strategy officer Jeetu Patel, data stored abroad will sometimes contain on servers from IBM. As part of the partnership, Box will now start adding Azure’s international locations to its Box zoned data program, which already uses data centers and servers from AWS and IBM. Microsoft currently has over 40 data centers around the world, providing Box with another way to reach the big market.

In addition, Box users will also be able to conduct more specific searches within multimedia content, thanks to Azure’s AI and machine learning technology. Azure’s machine learning automatically assigns detailed metadata that Box can easily access during user searches.

Box also supports AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and IBM SoftLayer, however, customers wouldn’t get the AI and machine learning capabilities with those service providers.

The data storage firm is also working with Microsoft on expanding the use of the AI and machine learning technology. This means that AI will not be limited to videos and multimedia contents only.

Box, the file-sharing platform

Launched in 2005 and based in Redwood City, California, Box (formerly known as Box.net), is a cloud content management and file sharing platform. Using Box, users can determine how their content shared with other users, they can invite other to view or even edit their works, upload some documents to the shared files and even upload images to the share files.

Box offers a cloud storage and files hosting service for individual and also businesses. Box apps are currently available on Windows, MacOS, but not on Linux. Box is also available on several mobile platforms, which include Apple’s iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.

Both companies will now start pitching the newly announced Box on Azure as part of the partnership. Box on Azure will be available later this year, according to the companies.

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